Silly me! There I thought that a DSLR that captures video must have one simple, standard name, and that I just didn’t know what it is. Thus my post on the topic in which I look at the overlapping use of “HDSLR,” “HD DSLR” and “DSLR video.” The comments I received from a number of savvy photographers made it clear that one simple, standard name does not exist, and that it might be better that way, at least for now.

Tony Wu wrote that “The discussion/debate never crossed my mind,” and he isn’t too worried about the question. Eric Chen wrote that the question is an “outdated discussion,” as nearly every DSLR captures video, and “it would be suicide for someone to produce a new SLR that isn’t ‘D’ or ‘HD’ or ‘ViD.’” His suggestion: “Drop the silly prefixes! I just use ‘SLR.’”

Ian Shive seems to agree about dropping prefixes, except to perhaps add an “F” to film SLRS — as in FSLR — and thereby making it clear that an SLR that is called an SLR is really a DSLR. Interesting idea.

“Let’s call it what it is; a VSLR,” wrote Ralph Clevenger. “A video single lens reflex camera, or video-capable single lens reflex.” Not only does this make the most sense, Clevenger believes, but he also notes that it rolls of the tongue real nice. In an email to me said that Brooks Institute, where he teaches, will be adopting this name. The VSLR. It does roll off the tongue nicely, and Clevenger makes good sense, but could there be a risk to insisting (as I was) that there must be one label when one label does not exist?

Richard Anderson (who likes “DSLR” and thinks, like Richard Harrington and PhotoCineNews, that it is best to simply talk about “DSLR video”, for clarity and avoiding additional prefixes) points out that “When it comes to terminology, there is no single George Bush-like ‘decider’”, and notes that “as soon as DP Review starts a forum called ‘HDSLR’ or ‘Video SLR,’ then the term will start to congeal.”

Before “It” Congeals

It seems clear that sooner than later all photographers (not working with antiques) will be using SLRs that are DSLRs and that all DSLRs will capture video and sound. Therefore, it seems possible (and sensible?) that SLRs that happen to be D (or V or H or HD) will come to be know simply as SLRs. This would be nice. But, of cousre, another term might congeal as a set standard. Who knows, but in the meantime I suggest:

#1: Don’t think about this topic as much as I have! As Gail Mooney puts it: “I’m much more interested in what the camera does [sic] than what it’s called.” In other words, she’s using her DSLR (or whatever it’s called) rather than debating about what to call it. Good for her!

#2: Consider what name makes sense to you, and stick by it. I still believe that professionalism and calling things by their best names go hand and hand. With this post and my previous one on this topic you are more than equipped to make a quick, intelligent naming decision for yourself.

Tags: Brooks Institute, Correct Name for a Digital SLR, Eric Cheng, Gail Mooney, Ian Shive, Nomenclature, PhotoCineNews, Photographic Terminology, Ralph Clevenger, Richard Harrington, The Proper Name for Hybrid Still-Video Cameras, Tony Wu, Why It's Called an HDSLR